An urgent message from an unknown number claiming to be a family member, a request for money in an anxious tone, or a code that arrives by SMS and someone asks you to forward it. These are everyday situations, and in many cases the goal is the same: to take over your WhatsApp account. This guide explains how to protect it and what signs to check so you don’t fall for it.
Why WhatsApp is a frequent target
A single app holds personal, family, and work conversations, along with photos, documents, and contacts. Your phone number works as the access key. If someone manages to activate your account on another device, they can write to your contacts pretending to be you, and those contacts have little reason to doubt it.
The topic also comes up in public debate. According to the headline in La Nación CR, UN experts warned about the role of Facebook and WhatsApp in Brazil’s elections. That debate focuses on the political influence of platforms, not on the security of individual users, but it is a reminder that WhatsApp is a space with a lot of public attention and that it’s worth knowing its tools.
The verification code trap
When someone wants to register your number on another phone, WhatsApp sends a six-digit code to your original phone. Scammers often message you pretending to be a friend, a relative, or even the app itself, and ask you to forward that code “to confirm something.” If you share it, you hand them access.
The rule is simple: never share a verification code with anyone, even if the message comes from a known contact. If the person is real, they most likely lost access to their own account and need help through another channel.
Turn on two-step verification
This feature asks for a six-digit PIN every time someone tries to register your number on another device. Even if they obtain the code, they cannot complete the process without the PIN. It is enabled from the account settings, in the two-step verification section. It’s advisable to link a recovery email and store the PIN somewhere safe, because without it, recovering the account can take days.
Check your linked devices
WhatsApp lets you use your account from a computer or tablet through linked sessions. If you don’t recognize one, close it from the linked devices section. Doing this check from time to time is a simple habit that detects unauthorized access.
Adjust who can see your information
In the privacy settings you can decide who sees your last seen, your profile photo and information, and who can add you to groups. Limiting these options to your contacts reduces the amount of data a stranger can use to prepare a targeted scam, for example, by mentioning your company’s name or a family member’s name.
Signs of a scam
Many scams follow a recognizable pattern. Be wary when any of these elements appear:
- Extreme urgency, with threats or very short deadlines.
- Requests for money, transfers, or the purchase of gift cards, especially from contacts who never make such requests.
- Shortened links or supposed prizes, giveaways, and money refunds.
Fuentes de la noticia
- France 24 (español): Elecciones presidenciales en Brasil: sigue la cobertura del balotaje
- BBC Mundo: Cómo Trump está tratando de influir para que Flávio Bolsonaro gane a Lula en las elecciones de Brasil
- La Nación (CR): Segunda ronda en Brasil bajo tensión: Expertos de la ONU advierten por rol de Facebook y WhatsApp en elecciones
- El País: El presidente Lula abre el grifo del dinero público en la campaña para las reñidas elecciones en Brasil